In 1997 Bernhardt spearheaded a successful campaign to have the National Park Service declare Union Square Park a National Landmark, in recognition of the site’s importance for over 150 years as a public space for labor. The designation plaque, located in the plaza at the south end of the square, reads:

This site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.

Here workers exercised their rights to free speech and assembly and on September 5, 1882, observed the first Labor Day.

A celebration of this historic designation—including a reenactment of the first Labor Day parade, written and produced by Dorothy Fennell—was held in September 1999.

Marching to Union Square–Dressed to participate in re-creation of first labor day parade are Bernhardt, and daughter Sonia with friends Tamara and Hanon in “newsies” costumes.